WILD  FLOWERS  OF  AFRICA- BUT  PURE. 
WILD  (HEATHEN)  GIRLS  ofafrica- 
BUT  MAY  BE  MADE  PURE. 


HISTORY 


TllIIS  school  was  organized  in  1807  by  Miss  F.  Grace 
Allen.  Through  the  wise,  efficient  and  spiritual 
labors  of  Miss  Allen  and  other  missionaries  who 
have  assisted  in  the  work,  the  blessing  of  the 
Lord  has  been  upon  this  school  from  the  beginning. 

A  native  young  woman  by  the  name  of  Martha  Mfeka 
has  been  an  efficient  helper  and  teacher  in  it.  She  was 
educated  in  a  seminary  of  the  American  Board. 

Some  conversions  were  reported  the  first  year  of  the 
school  among  the  twenty-one  present  at  the  beginning. 
Some  of  these  stayed  only  a  short  time,  being  dragged 
away  by  enraged  parents. 

The  school  is  held  about  nine  months  in  the  year. 
The  girls  are  kept  busy  from  5:00  a.  m.  till  8:30  p.  m. 
Besides  the  regular  school  work,  the  girls  are  taught  on 
various  industrial  lines  of  work,  such  as  gardening, 
sewing,  cooking,  and  housekeeping.  Their  meals  are 
cooked  in  European  style. 

When  the  missionary  secretary  (B.  Winget)  was  in 
Africa  in  1808,  Miss  Allen  was  living  in  a  poor,  old,  ant- 


eaten  building,  which  was  about  read}'  to  fall  down  and 
the  accommodations  for  the  school  were  very  poor.  A 
generous  donation  by  Kev.  S.  B.  Shaw  of  $1,000.00  of  his 
publications,  at  retail  prices,  toward  the  erection  of  a 
suitable  building  for  the  teachers  and  the  school,  greatly 
helped,  and  in  1899  one  was  built.  It  was  built  prin¬ 
cipally  of  brick  made  on  the  station  and  is  about  38x56 
feet. 

Miss  Allen  writes  in  1909 :  “Our  last  term  of 
school  was  the  best  we  have  ever  had  in  the  Girls’  Dome. 
1  think  the  increased  attendance  this  teim  is  the  out¬ 
come  of  it.  We  had  a  revival  from  the  beginning  of  the 
term  to  the  close  and  every  girl  in  school  was  saved.’’ 
April  16,  1909 :  “We  are  straining  every  nerve  to  keep 
the  school  going,  but  the  government  will  not  allow  us  to 
keep  so  many  unless  we  have  more  room  soon.  Oh !  how 
I  wish  we  had  the  money  to  start  brick-making.  We  have 
some  noble  Christian  girls  in  school.” 

Misses  Allen  and  Deed  have  held  out  the  hope 
to  the  government  officials  that  another  building  would 
be  provided  and  so  they  have  permitted  the  school  to 
continue.  It  is  uncertain  how  long  they  will  do  so  un¬ 
less  the  hope  of  a  new  building  has  better  evidences  of 
being  a  realization  in  the  near  future. 


o 


NTOMBINKULU 

(BIG  GIRL) 

- OR - 

A  Zulu  Girl  in  Fair  View  Girls’  School 

NATAL,  SOUTH  AFRICA 


Written  and  Illustrated  By 

NELLIE  A.  REED 

A  Missionary  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  for  eight  years  among  the  Zulus. 

1132  Washington  Boulevard 
Chicago,  Ill  inois 

1914 


INTRODUCTION 


what  is  being  done  and  the  nature  of  the  work. 
We  want  them  to  see  what  has  come  from  their  fervent 
faith  and  effectual  prayers. 

To  those  who  have  not  known,  we  want  them  to  see 
and  read  of  the  work,  that  they  may  join  our  paying 
and  praying  ranks  and  push  on  the  Kingdom  of  God 
among  the  heathen. 

The  proceeds  of  the  sale  on  this  little  book  will  go  to 
enlarge  the  work  in  this  school.  We  especially  need  a 
new  building. 

Have  you  remembered  Africa  and  this  school  in  your 
prayers,  your  sacrifices  and  your  wills? 

If  others  are  doing  no  more  than  you,  how  soon  will 
Africa  be  evangelized?  Nellie  A.  Reed. 


THK  coming  out  of  this  booklet  is  twofold. 

We  want  our  friends  who  have  so  generously 
contributed  to  the  support  of  this  school  to  know 


F.  GRACE  ALLEN 


NELLIE  A  REED 


4 


NTOMBINKXJLU 


WiITH  liis  hands  tightly  clasped  around  his  knees  a 
Zulu  father  sat  on  the  floor  toasting  his  bare  feet 
by  the  open  fire.  A  liollowed-out  place  in  the 
center  of  this  African  hut  answered  for  a  stove. 
There  was  neither  pipe  nor  chimney  and  the  smoke  found 
its  way  out  through  the  thatch  grass  roof  the  best  way  it 
could.  This  was  the  kitchen,  built  after  the  plan  of  their 
heathen  fathers.  They  had  a  Christian  house  just  across 
the  door-yard  built  with  an  upright  door,  windows  and 
rooms,  but  it  was  much  cozier  to  sit  by  this  open  fire 
where  the  wife  was  busy  preparing  a  supper  of  sweet  po¬ 
tatoes  roasted  in  the  ashes  and  a  chicken  boiling  in  a 
three-legged  pot  elevated  by  rocks  in  the  fire. 

“I  expect  we  shall  have  to  send  Ntombinkulu  away  to 
the  Girls’  School  at  Fair  View  in  a  few  days,”  remarked 
he.  “I  don't  like  to  see  her  go  and  I  hardly  see  how  you 
can  spare  her.  There  is  the  hoeing  of  the  sweet  potatoes, 
the  mealies  (corn)  and  beans.  The  wood  is  so  far  away 
for  you  to  bring  with  these  two  babies  on  hand.”  “Yes,” 
said  she,  “there  is  a  constant  pain  in  my  heart  as  I 
think  of  losing  her  and  it  will  mean  hard  work  for  me, 
but  we  gave  her  to  God  at  her  birth  and  she  is  His.  We 
want  her  to  learn  all  the  missionaries  can  teach  her  so 
she  can  help  these  heathen  people  about  us.  Only  to-day 


a  heathen  woman  passed  here  who  has  five  children.  She 
said  she  would  like  her  children  to  learn  and  be  Chris¬ 
tians  but  her  husband  refused  to  let  them  come  to  our 
mission  school.  If  we  had  a  teacher  over  there  I  am 
sure  the  heathen  parents  would  not  object  to  letting 
them  go  an  hour  or  two  a  day.  Oh,  my  heart  aches! 
Those  children  are  as  bright  as  ours  and  ought  to  be 
learning  right  away.  Ntombinkulu  has  finished  the 
fourth  grade  here  at  our  station  school,  but  with  the  fifth 
and  sixth  at  Fair  View  it  will  be  two  years  before  she 
can  get  to  this  work.  Then  you  know  we  hoped  she 
would  be  so  well  educated  she  could  help  the  missionary 
right  here  in  this  school  and  be  at  home.  Well,  the  Lord 
will  help  us  out  but  we  must  ask  the  missionary  if 
something  can’t  be  done  immediately  for  that  section  from 
which  this  heathen  woman  comes.  She  seems  above  the 
ordinary.” 

Before  the  sun  was  up  Ntombinkulu  and  her  mother 
with  two  or  three  of  the  larger  children  might  be  found 
in  tbe  gardens  busy  at  work  getting  as  much  done  as 
possible  before  school  should  begin.  The  father  went 
away  to  work  every  morning  for  a  white  man  living  three 
miles  away.  He  and  his  wife  were  both  children  of 
heathen  parents,  but  when  they  were  nearly  grown  the 


5 


Early  days  of  the  school 


Martha  Mfeka,  the  assistant 


missionary  had  settled  among  them.  They  had  gone  to 
the  mission  school  and  became  converted.  They  were 
married  before  they  had  finished  school,  but  had  planned 
that  their  children  should  have  an  early  start  and  a  good 
education.  It  was  hard  work  for  them  in  the  early  years 
of  their  marriage  for  the  rate  of  wage  received  by"  a  native 
is  low.  He  had  a  debt  of  five  of  the  ten  cattle  he  was  to 
pay  his  heathen  father-in-law  for  his  wife.  Now  it  was  a 
glad  time  for  them  to  see  their  oldest  about  ready  to 
give  herself  to  the  work  of  the  Master  they  both  loved  so 
well. 

The  women  came  up  for  breakfast  at  eleven  o’clock, 
for  the  sun  had  now  gotten  so  hot  it  was  too  hard  to 
work  and  the  thatch  hut  would  be  cool  where  they  could 
do  the  little  sewing  yet  left  on  the  school  clothes.  Ntorn- 
binkulu  would  not  be  at  home  again  for  six  months  and 
there  must  be  a  plenty. 

The  last  day  at  home  was  spent  in  cooking  for  the 
road.  Stamp  (corn  and  beans  pounded  and  cooked  to¬ 
gether)  was  easy  to  carry,  so  were  sweet  potatoes  and 
chicken. 

Ntombinkulu  rose  the  next  morning  with  an  aching 
heart  for  now  she  had  come  to  the  good-byes.  She  told 
her  mother  she  had  two  hearts,  one  to  go  and  one  to  stay. 
Her  clothes  were  nicely  packed  in  a  white  pillow  case, 
the  native  basket  held  the  food  and  this  she  balanced  on 
her  head.  When  “good-byes”  and  “be-goods”  were  said, 
she  with  her  father  by  her  side  started  out  for  their  long 
walk.  He  accompanied  her  for  several  miles  where  she 


called  for  three  other  girls  and  he  returned  home.  A  twen¬ 
ty-five  mile  walk  lay  before  these  girls,  but  they  were 
strong  and  care  free,  happy  and  talkative,  and  they  did 
not  mind  the  journey.  Fortunately  at  a  cross-road  they 
overtook  an  empty  transport  wagon  drawn  by  sixteen 
burros.  Most  of  the  wagons  they  had  seen  were  going 
the  other  way.  As  many  as  two  hundred  wagons  were 
taking  supplies  into  Pondoland.  This  was  very  exciting, 
for  one  or  two  had  never  had  a  ride  before.  However, 
before  they  had  ridden  very  far  they  came  to  a  large 
heathen  kraal.  One  of  the  girls  was  acquainted  here  so 
they  stopped  to  urge  the  girls  living  there  to  accompany 
them.  Two  of  the  four  girls  decided  to  go,  the  others 
hoped  to  follow  later. 

The  afternoon  was  hot,  the  roads  were  dusty,  but 
frequently  they  crossed  streams  where  they  could  bathe 
their  tired  feet  and  eat  of  their  food.  Darkness  was 
almost  upon  them  ere  they  drew  near  to  Port  Shepstone, 
a  little  town  where  the  railway  began  and  ended.  Some¬ 
times  a  Christian  family  lived  there  who  would  allow 
school  girls  and  boys  to  stay  over  night  with  them,  but 
generally  they  rolled  up  in  their  shawls  or  blankets  and 
lay  on  the  floor  of  the  railway  station.  The  heathen 
girls  had  no  money  so  they  awoke  at  sunrise  and  walked 
on  to  Fair  Mew,  feeling  quite  sure  that  they  would 
arrive  at  about  the  same  time  as  the  girls  who  took  the 
Irain.  The  train  would  start  at  seven  thirty  with  only 
twelve  miles  to  ride,  so  they  could  easily  reach  Fair  View 
by  breakfast  time.  There  would  be  other  girls  at  the 


7 


8 


railway  station  (Umzumbi  Rail)  and  they  would  all  walk 
the  two  miles  from  the  railway  station  together.  Sure 
enough  they  were  joined  by  several  who  had  been  in  the 
school  before,  and  in  the  merry  conversation  some  found, 
though  they  had  never  seen  one  another  before,  that  they 
were  of  tribe  relation. 

Before  they  came  in  sight  of  the  school  building  they 
saw  the  school  gardens.  Yes,  there  were  some  of  the 
girls  who  had  stayed  through  vacation,  fearing  to  go 
home,  lest  their  parents  refuse  to  let  them  be  Christians 
and  burn  their  clothes.  They  were  just  shouldering  their 
hoes  ready  to  go  to  breakfast.  A  shout  attracted  their 
attention.  The  garden  girls  responded  with  shouts, 
swinging  of  hoes  and  high  jumps  over  clods,  stumps, 
vines  and  other  obstacles  in  their  haste  to  greet  them. 
Not  even  the  monkeys  in  the  bush  could  have  kept  up 
with  such  chattering  as  those  girls  indulged  in  on  their 
way  up  the  hill  to  the  school. 


THE  SCHOOL. 

.  . .  ■■  ■■  —  ■  ■  —  -  ■  - - - - - - 

Tr““  HROUGH  the  big  trees  they  saw  the  red  iron  roof 
of  the  one-story  school  building.  It  looked  very 
big  and  seemed  to  spread  out  like  an  old  hen  try¬ 
ing  to  cover  her  fast-growing  brood.  The  school 
paths  were  a  delight,  they  were  kept  so  clean  and  on  either 
side  plants,  bushes  and  trees  were  gorgeous  in  their 


tropical  beauty.  A  soft,  short  grass  covered  the  grounds, 
and  some  of  the  girls  who  had  walked  from  home  since 
morning  had  tossed  their  stuffed  pillow-cases  upon  it 
and  sat  down  for  a  cool  breath  and  rest,  their  tongues 
never  forgetting  their  cunning. 

Some  heathen  girls  had  also  come,  but  they  stood  in 
silence,  gazing  at  the  happy  Christians.  Their  hair  hung 
over  their  faces  in  hundreds  of  muddy  fringes;  a  red 
mudded  blanket  and  a  short  leather  shirt  with  plenty  of 
bracelets  and  anklets  was  the  sum  total  of  their  apparel. 
They  came  empty-handed.  True  to  their  word  the  twro 
heathen  girls  who  had  walked  from  Port  Shepstone  were 
also  seated  upon  the  grass.  While  the  girls  were  still 
chatting  and  other  girls  and  others  coming  in  sight,  the 
school  bell  rang  and  in  trooped  the  girls,  Ntombinkulu 
following  the  others.  On  entering  the  building  they 
turned  to  the  right  where  the  school-room  occupied  the 
full  length.  At  the  left  wras  the  room  of  one  of  the  mis¬ 
sionaries  and  the  next  was  the  girls’  dining-room.  Most 
of  the  girls  left  the  pillow-cases  on  the  seats  and  tables 
in  the  dining-room,  but  those  who  had  been  there  before 
ran  up-stairs,  for  the  once  big  attic  had  now  been  ceiled, 
dormer  windows  put  in  and  sixty  girls  could  spread  their 
mats  on  the  floor  and  all  sleep  together  in  one  big  bed. 
Others  must  occupy  the  floors  of  the  dining-room  and 
schoolroom. 

With  the  girls  in  the  school-room  some  of  the  mission¬ 
aries  had  also  gathered  to  join  in  the  first  morning 
exercises  of  the  school.  Ntombinkulu  was  so  happy  to  sit 


9 


1.  Twins  on  donkey  2.  Hope  Mfeka  in  1905 

4,  Hope  in  1912.  Easter  lilies  in  November  5.  Miss  Reed  and  Kindergarten 


3.  Martha  with  Hope  and  the  twins 
6.  Girls  bringing  water 


10 


among  so  many  Christian  girls,  and  happier  to  hear  that 
the  opening  songs  were  the  very  ones  they  sang  at  home, 
so  she  joined  in  heartily.  The  principal  read  the  Bible, 
some  of  the  missionaries  talked  and  they  all  knelt  to  pray. 
The  sweet  and  holy  presence  of  her  Savior  seemed  to  fill 
the  room  and  Ntombinkulu  was  not  lonely  nor  afraid. 
When  they  arose,  one  of  the  teachers  told  them  that  they 
had  been  earnestly  praying  during  vacation  that  all  the 
girls  might  be  kept  safe  from  harm  and  sin.  She  felt  it 
would  be  very  encouraging  to  hear  them  tell  how  God  had 
hel]>ed  them  while  at  their  homes,  how  they  had  been 
able  to  overcome  Satan  and  if  they  had  been  able  to  win 
any  for  Christ.  Faithful,  saintly  Josephine  was  the  first 
to  arise.  She  had  opened  a  little  school  at  the  chief’s 
kraal,  held  prayer-meetings,  taught  a  Sunday-school  class 
and  gleaned  in  the  corn  fields  so  that  she  had  enough  to 
pay  her  church  dues  and  to  buy  her  a  new  dress.  Two 
sisters  had  come  over  fifty  miles.  Their  parents  were 
heathen  and  had  refused  to  let  them  come,  so  they  had 
run  away.  Their  brothers  had  chased  them  with  dogs. 
They  had  lost  their  extra  clothing,  slept  all  night  in  the 
bush,  and  after  walking  some  distance  had  arrived  safely. 
They  were  so  glad  Jehovah  had  helped  them  to  come.  An¬ 
other  had  returned  in  a  heathen  blanket,  for  her  father 
had  burned  her  clothes.  Some  had  spent  an  ordinary 
vacation,  doing  what  they  could  to  shine  for  Jesus;  others 
amidst  severe  testings  had  been  able  to  overcome.  One 
girl,  whose  father  tried  to  compel  her  to  be  the  second 
wife  of  an  old  heathen,  had  stoutly  refused  and  God  had 


so  helped  her  that  her  father  gave  in.  Others  had  been 
invited  to  beer  drinks,  heathen  engagements  and  wed¬ 
dings,  but  had  remained  at  home  alone  while  the  family 
went.  So  in  these  Zulu  homes  within  a  radius  of  seventy- 
five  miles  of  the  school  these  girls  had  been  letting  their 
light  shine  for  Jesus  among  their  heathen  friends  and 
relatives.  The  heathen  girls  too  testified  that  they  had 
come  to  learn  to  be  Christians,  because  Christian  girls 
had  been  to  their  homes,  telling  them  how  wonderful  it 
was  to  be  a  Christian,  go  to  school,  and  then  they  had 
prayed  with  them. 

It  was  recess  time  before  they  had  finished  relating 
their  experiences.  After  recess  they  were  given  their 
seats  by  classes.  There  was  not  room  for  all,  so  the  be¬ 
ginners,  those  who  study  Zulu,  were  sent  over  to  Martha, 
one  of  the  native  teachers,  and  those  studying  English 
remained.  Books,  slates  and  pencils  belonging  to  the 
school  were  distributed  and  some  light  work  assigned; 
then  it  was  dinner  time. 

Oh,  how  hungry  they  were,  but  they  had  to  wait 
quietly  and  be  given  their  places  by  classes.  The  tables 
had  clean,  white  cloths  and  each  girl  had  a  white  enam¬ 
eled  plate,  a  cup  and  a  large  tin  spoon.  Some  had  never 
sat  on  a  seat  before  or  eaten  with  a  spoon,  but  they  care¬ 
fully  watched  the  others  and  managed  nicely.  One  of  the 
teachers  informed  them  that  they  might  go  to  work  in 
the  gardens  after  dinner.  Pleased  glances  were  ex¬ 
changed,  for  they  were  very  tired  of  sitting  still,  especial¬ 
ly  upon  seats. 


“Do  you  think  you  can  keep  the  rules,  Ntombinkulu?” 
said  a  former  pupil,  proud  to  be  able  to  know  ahead  of 
time  what  would  soon  be  told  to  them  all.  “I  don’t 
know,”  said  Ntombinkulu,  “for  I  have  not  heard  them 
yet.”  “Well,  we  have  to  bathe  every  day  and  comb  our 
hair  and  then  from  after  breakfast  until  after  supper  we 
speak  English  only.  If  we  talk  Zulu  we  shall  have  to 
hoe  in  the  garden  fifteen  minutes  during  our  leisure  time 
on  Saturday.”  “That  will  be  very  hard,  but  if  the  Lord 
will  help  me  I  think  I  can  do  it.”  “You  may  believe  we 
talked  Zulu  very  fast  before  breakfast  and  after  supper,” 
replied  the  former  pupil.  “I  wonder  what  work  you  will 
be  given  to  do.  Last  year  I  learned  to  sweep  and  dust, 
to  cook  and  wash  dishes,  and  once  I  helped  lay  all  the 
mats  and  blankets  for  night.  We  shall  hear  our  work 
this  evening.”  The  information  was  correct,  for  all  the 
girls  were  called  to  the  school-room  and  their  names  were 
read  off  with  the  work  they  were  to  do  for  the  coming 
month.  Two  had  to  cook  breakfast,  two  were  needed  for 
dinners  and  two  for  suppers.  Then  there  was  sweeping 
and  dish-washing.  The  best  work  of  all  was  caring  for 
the  missionaries’  rooms,  making  their  strange  beds  and 
gathering  beautiful  flowers  for  the  tables ;  yes,  and  set¬ 
ting  their  tables  for  meals  and  working  over  their  big, 
black  firebox. 

Ntombinkulu  was  given  the  school-room  to  sweep  and 
dust  and  keep  in  order  together  with  half  the  verandas. 
How  glad  she  was  that  she  had  helped  her  teacher  at 
home,  for  this  big  room  was  no  longer  a  mystery. 


11 


After  prayers  that  evening  two  or  three  girls  came  in 
to  the  school-room  with  loads  of  numbered  blankets  and 
each  girl  was  given  one,  being  told  to  remember  her 
number. 

Ntombinkulu,  following  the  line  of  girls  upstairs,  pre¬ 
pared  herself  for  bed.  A  pang  came  to  her  heart,  for  with 
ail  these  chattering  girls,  where  was  she  to  get  a  chance  to 
pray?  Some  girls  had  returned  down  the  stairs.  What 
did  it  mean?  Seeing  the  new  acquaintance  of  the  after¬ 
noon  she  asked  why  the  girls  were  going  back.  “We  go  to 
the  school-room  to  pray.  It  is  dark  there,  but  there  is  a 
tiny  light  for  us  to  read  our  Bibles  with.”  So  joyfully 
she  followed  the  others  and  mingled  her  voice  in  the 
medley  of  voices  as  each  poured  out  her  heart  to  God. 
Surely,  He  had  done  great  things  for  her  in  allowing  her 
to  come  among  so  great  a  company  of  Christians, 
who  seemed  to  have  harder  struggles  to  be  Christians 
than  she.  Had  she  not  a  self-denying  father  and  mother, 
while  some  of  these  had  been  obliged  to  leave  father  and 
mother  to  follow  Him?  How  hard  it  must  be  for  them 
to  go  to  sleep,  feeling  their  parents  in  their  heathen  blind¬ 
ness  were  angry  and  unforgiving,  when  truly  they  loved 
one  another  as  much  as  she  and  her  parents  loved.  She 
was  very  thankful  for  her  favorable  surroundings. 

When  the  rising  bell  rang  next  morning  Ntombinkulu 
did  not  know  Avliere  she  was,  but  it  soon  dawned  upon 
her  that  the  dream  that  she  was  at  school  was  a  beautiful 
reality.  Five  minutes  only  was  given  for  dressing;  her 
blanket  must  be  folded  and  her  mat  rolled  up.  Then  she 


12 


followed  the  others  to  the  school-room  for  her  secret 
prayer  before  beginning  the  day’s  duties. 

All  of  the  girls  went  to  the  river  for  water.  It  was 
a  long,  graceful  line  that  returned  up  the  winding  path, 
every  girl  balancing  a  bucket  of  water  upon  her  head.  A 
few  armed  with  small  axes  went  to  the  bush  with  teacher 
to  gather  wood;  others  swinging  their  hoes  went  to  the 
garden.  The  Africans  can  do  everything  in  the  line  of 
garden  work  with  their  heavy  hoes.  For  two  steady 
hours  they  worked  in  the  garden  and  when  the  breakfast 
bell  rang  at  eight,  it  was  a  joyful  sound.  “To-day,”  said 
one  of  the  former  pupils,  “we  shall  have  two  hours  of 
sewing.  I  wonder  what  class  you  will  join.  We  have 
three  classes.  The  children  and  heathen  girls  are  in  a 
beginner’s  class.  Then  when  they  do  real  nicely  they  may 
enter  the  second  class.  They  can  make  patch  work  and 
do  plain  sewing.  In  the  third  class  we  learn  to  do  extra 
fine  sewing  and  dressmaking.  We  are  allowed  to  use  the 
hand  sewing-machine  occasionally,  especially  when  there 
is  a  rush  to  make  dresses  for  heathen  girls.  Many  times 
the  missionaries  get  ready-made  dresses  from  America 
that  will  just  fit  some  of  the  heathen  girls.  The  mission¬ 
aries  always  look  so  thankful  when  the  dresses  do  come, 
for  this  is  not  their  native  climate  you  know,  and  they 
get  very  tired  and  white.” 

Just  then  their  attention  was  attracted  by  a  loud 
moan  from  a  heathen  girl  hoeing  near.  She  dropped  her 
hoe  and  fell  on  her  face  to  the  ground.  “What  is  it,” 
they  questioned.  “Do  you  see  those  men  yonder?”  said 


she.  “One  is  my  father,  another  a  brother.  They  are 
coming  to  take  me  home.”  “Never  fear,”  said  one.  “You 
stay  right  here  until  we  give  you  the  signal.  Do  not 
come  to  breakfast,  we  will  bring  you  food.”  Sure 
enough  three  heathen  men  stood  at  the  front  entrance; 
the  elderly  man  wore  a  waist  band  of  beads  with  little 
flaps  of  ox  hide  hanging  in  front  and  behind.  Wire  brace¬ 
lets  and  anklets,  and  a  goat  bladder  over  his  left  ear  formed 
his  complete  attire.  The  young  men  were  also  with  no 
clothing  except  a  cowhide  mutshi  (loin  girdle)  with  Haps 
around  their  waists  and  pieces  of  bamboo  stuck  through 
their  ears  for  an  ornament  as  well  as  a  much-used  snuff 
box.  They  carried  two  long  sticks  and  an  assegai 
(spear).  They  were  all  very  angry  and  were  speaking  in 
fierce  tones.  They  even  threatened  the  lives  of  the  mis¬ 
sionaries  if  they  did  not  produce  the  girl.  With  tact 
the  missionary  was  trying  to  quiet  them.  When  the 
girls  came  up  from  the  garden  she  questioned  several  as 
to  the  whereabouts  of  the  girl.  The  girls  who  knew  kept 
at  a  safe  distance.  All  ate  breakfast  in  silence,  for  they 
were  alarmed  at  the  sight  of  these  men  looking  in  at 
them  through  the  open  doors  and  windows.  The  men 
stayed  until  nearly  noon  and  still  the  girl  did  not  appear. 
At  their  shoutings  to  the  missionaries  to  give  up  their 
property  the  ladies  worked  on,  making  no  response,  and 
showed  by  their  looks  that  they  did  not  know.  Thinking 
that  they  had  been  misinformed  as  to  the  whereabouts 
of  their  child  they  finally  left.  The  knowing  girls  then 
brought  forth  their  trophy.  A  shout  of  joy  went  up  as 


13 


Teasing  big  girls 


Girls  at  play 

Miss  Reed  and  her  “shadows" 
Unfinished  hut 


Little  girls  playing  with  sleeping  mats 


14 


they  saw  that  she  had  been  spared  and  now  every  girl 
was  on  the  watch  to  give  warning  should  the  men  re¬ 
turn.  These  men  did  not  come  but  other  parents  did. 
It  kept  one  of  the  ladies  busy  most  all  day  arguing  with 
them,  trying  to  get  them  to  let  the  girls  stay.  One  girl 
went  home,  for  her  father  told  her  he  would  “rub  out  her 
name”  if  she  did  not  go.  This  is  one  of  the  worst 
penalties. 

Towards  evening  a  heathen  woman  came  for  her  child. 
The  girl  stoutly  refused  all  her  entreaties ;  then  the  mother 
began  to  cry,  for  she  said  her  husband  had  promised  to 
beat  her  if  she  did  not  bring  the  girl  home.  She  must  go 
home,  though  it  had  now  grown  dark  and  she  had  six 
miles  to  walk.  Her  husband  had  forced  her  to  leave  her 
nursing  child.  The  girl  went,  begging  those  remaining 
to  ask  Jehovah  to  let  her  come  back.  Oh,  so  sad !  Back  to 
heathen  sins,  darkness  and  superstition,  when  her  heart 
was  craving  the  light !  Back  to  where  her  value  is  esti¬ 
mated  by  the  number  of  cattle  she  will  bring  in  marriage, 
rather  than  her  eternal  value  as  an  immortal  soul  seeking 
everlasting  bliss.  Back  where  there  is  no  God  to  fear 
and  none  to  love. 

Saturday  night  the  eyes  of  Ntombinkulu’s  heart 
looked  toward  home,  but  she  wrote  a  letter  instead. 

Dear  mother:  I  am  happy  to  get  this  op¬ 
portunity  to  write  you.  I  am  well  in  the  Lord. 

I  hope  you  are  also  well.  Indeed,  I  praise  the 
Lord  for  my  coming  to  this  place  that  has  such 
a  large  work.  And  the  girls  who  stay  here  are 


Christian  girls.  There  are  some  heathen  girls 
too,  but  they  want  to  be  Christians.  This  place, 
I  am  glad  about  it,  because  these  girls  with  whom 
I  am  here,  love  Jesus  well. 

Friday  morning  when  we  arose  at  live  o’clock 
we  did  not  go  to  work  in  the  gardens.  We 
marched  two  by  two  to  the  prayer-meeting  at  the 
church.  We  were  many  and  took  many  of  the 
seats.  The  missionary  led  it.  It  was  a  wonder¬ 
ful  meeting  indeed.  Some  of  the  heathen  girls 
began  to  confess  their  sins.  Their  sins  were 
truly  bad.  One  had  helped  another  girl  kill  a 
neighbor’s  goat.  They  had  built  a  fire  and 
roasted  and  eaten  all  they  could  of  it,  then  tak¬ 
ing  the  remainder  home  and  telling  their 
parents  they  found  it  with  a  broken  leg.  One 
had  been  very  angry  with  her  little  mother  (the 
second  or  third  wife  of  her  father)  and  she  had 
burned  her  hut.  One  had  choked  to  death  the 
crying  baby  of  a  neighbor.  Truly,  I  would  be 
afraid  if  they  do  not  begin  to  love  Jesus  quickly. 

Saturdays  Ave  do  not  learn  in  books.  Most  of 
us  work  in  the  gardens  until  eleven  o’clock  in 
the  mornings;  when  we  come  back  the  few  that 
stayed  at  the  building  have  taken  nearly  every¬ 
thing  outside  for  the  sun  and  air  and  the  floors 
are  all  scrubbed.  Then  we  go  to  the  river  to 
wash  our  clothes.  Mother,  I  need  a  penny  to  buy 
soap.  It  will  last  me  two  weeks.  Some  of  the 


15 


4. 


1.  Christian  home 
Daughters  of  these  heathen  parents  5. 


2.  Sisters — heathen  and  Christian 

Same  daughter,  Elizabeth  Zelem,  teacher  6.  Heathen  home 


3.  Heathen  parents 


16 


girls  have  but  one  dress,  so  while  it  is  drying  on 
the  grass  they  have  to  sit  and  wait  for  it.  Then 
they  put  it  on  wrong  side  out  to  keep  it  clean  for 
Sunday.  The  heathen  girls  have  no  clothes  to 
wash  ;  they  play  in  the  water,  bathe  and  watch  us. 

When  we  come  up  from  the  river  we  have  to 
eat  dinner  outside,  for  the  floors  are  still  wet. 
Generally  there  are  strange  women  and  girls  on 
the  back  veranda  who  have  brought  cooked  food 
to  their  girls  or  sisters.  I  wish  we  lived  near 
so  Katie  could  bring  me  food.  I  remember  you 
all  very  much.  My  heart  thinks  of  home  often. 
Is  my  pig  well?  Konzela  (kind  regards)  to  all 
the  people  for  me.  I  have  no  more  words.  It 
is  I  Your  child, 

Ntombinkulu. 

P.  S. — We  have  all  Saturday  afternoon  to 
do  as  we  like.  Some  work  for  dresses  and  testa¬ 
ments  and  soap.  I  finished  hemming  my  apron 

and  folded  all  mv  clothes  in  a  box.  N.  C. 

«/ 


REVIVALS 


ISSIONARIES  are  anxious  to  begin  on  the  work 
of  soul  saving  as  soon  as  the  school  gets  settled ; 
accordingly,  the  first  Friday  night  that  the 
moon  was  full  toward  morning,  an  all-night 
meeting  was  appointed  at  the  church.  It  is  a  time  of 


heart  searching  and  confession  for  the  heathen  and  the 
cold-hearted,  and  one  of  great  blessing  and  encourage¬ 
ment  for  the  Christian.  The  girls  march  home  singing, 

“Si  zo  bamba  no  Jesu  (We  will  walk  with  Jesus) 

Si  zo  nqobo  no  Jesu”  (We  will  overcome  with  Jesus). 

The  following  Saturday  morning  was  one  never  to  be 
forgotten.  All  were  feeling  somewhat  weary  as  they 
went  to  the  school-room  for  prayers  after  breakfast.  But 
they  had  not  been  at  prayer  long  before  a  gracious  out¬ 
pouring  of  the  spirit  came  upon  them.  The  crowded 
school-room  was  a  scene  which  must  have  made  angels 
rejoice.  Some  walked  back  and  forth  praising  the  Lord 
aloud ;  some  wept  and  others  were  singing,  while  still 
others  were  trying  to  testify.  A  volume  of  praise  went 
up  from  every  lip.  Even  the  little  children  had  con¬ 
fessed  their  sins  and  were  standing  about  crying  and 
rejoicing  by  turns,  then  turning  and  exhorting  others 
to  open  their  hearts  wide  and  let  Jesus  come  in.  This 
lasted  nearly  four  hours.  Work  and  food  were  forgotten. 
Sins  confessed  and  shouts  of  victory  were  heard  as  one 
after  another  felt  the  cleansing  and  pardoning  power. 
One  had  become  careless  and  indifferent.  She  was  much 
annoyed  by  the  continued  praying,  but  now,  after  con¬ 
fessing  and  bitterly  weeping  her  way  to  the  cross,  she 
lost  her  load  of  sin  and  none  was  more  loud  in  joyful 
demonstration  than  she. 

The  heathen  girls  in  their  blankets  were  surrounded 
and  exhorted  to  yield  to  Christ.  Soon  they  were  on  their 


17 


18 


knees  praying  with  the  rest.  The  pastor  of  the  Mission 
Station  came  over  and  rejoiced  with  them.  He  asked 
all  who  felt  Jesus’  blood  had  washed  away  every  sin, 
to  raise  their  hands.  Almost  every  girl  with  one  accord 
sprang  to  her  feet  and  with  uplifted  hands  and  shining 
faces  gave  eloquent  testimony  to  the  wonderful  power  of 
God  even  in  dark  Africa. 

There  was  noise  in  their  hearts,  but  now  it  is  still. 
What  a  wonderful  word  to  them ! .  .  .  .  Peace ! .  .  .  .  Wonder¬ 
ful  to  us  all,  but  we  do  not  have  the  torments  of  evil 
spirits  and  witchcraft  that  they  do.  Peace!  and  the  dark, 
troubled  expression  disappears  from  their  faces;  they 
look  happy  and  satisfied,  and  begin  to  gain  flesh. 

At  the  morning  prayers  Sunday  one  of  the  lady  mis¬ 
sionaries  asked  how  many  of  the  girls  would  volunteer 
to  go  with  her  to  heathen  kraal  meetings.  She  wanted 
a  dozen.  Three  times  as  many  as  were  needed  raised 
their  hands.  “It  is  seven  or  eight  miles  you  know,  so  you 
shall  not  be  present  at  the  Sunday-school  here  at  the 
church  to-day.” 

Ntombinkulu  was  one  of  the  volunteers  accepted.  It 
seemed  much  like  home  to  be  starting  out  to  hold  meet¬ 
ings  just  as  she  had  done  every  week,  going  with  her 
parents  and  other  Christians. 

Just  as  the  afternoon  service  at  the  church  was 
closing  these  volunteers  came  back,  marching  and  singing. 
They  stopped  at  the  church.  The  altar  service  was  over 
and  those  who  had  been  forward  were  testifying.  The 
girls  were  so  full  of  joy  they  could  not  keep  still,  some 


starting  stirring  songs,  others  testifying.  The  people, 
too,  looked  to  them,  craving  the  inspiration  they  brought 
and  which  always  comes  from  those  who  have  been  at 
work  for  Jesus.  The  girls  brought  three  heathen  girls 
with  them  who  wished  to  enter  school  and  be  Christians. 

“I  do  not  see  how  we  can  do  it!”  “Nor  I,”  said  the 
second.  Ntombinkulu  overheard  these  remarks  from  the 
girls  walking  home  just  behind  her  and  wondered  what 
was  troubling  them.  Another  girl  asked,  saving  her  the 
trouble.  “You  see,”  said  they,  “the  lady  missionary  in 
the  Sunday-school  told  us  about  people  in  Japan,  India 
and  China  who  often  have  famines  and  die  of  hunger. 
They  are  suffering  from  it  now  in  one  of  these  countries. 
We  always  have  food  and  she  hopes  we  can  help  them. 
Now  that  it  is  spring  time  she  asks  us  to  plant  a  Lord’s 
garden  or  set  a  lien  and  raise  chickens  for  the  Lord. 
We  are  away  from  home  with  no  seeds,  no  gardens,  no 
hens  nor  money.  I  asked  her  at  noon  what  we  could  do. 
She  did  not  tell  me,  but  asked  me  to  pray  for  an  answer 
from  God ;  also  see  where  I  could  make  a  sacrifice.”  “I 
think  we  shall  all  have  to  have  an  answer  through 
prayer,”  said  Ntombinkulu,  “for  I  see  no  way  either.” 
“God  will  surely  show  us,  for  we  shall  love  to  do  some¬ 
thing  for  them.” 

There  is  no  evening  service,  for  it  is  unsafe  for  the 
natives  to  come  over  their  paths  by  night.  Poisonous 
snakes  then  seek  the  paths  to  find  a  cool  breeze.  Supper 
over,  the  girls  were  beginning  to  gather  in  the  school¬ 
room  for  evening  reading,  singing  or  praying. 


19 


1.  Heathen  g-irl  just  arrived  Girls  who  have  come  but  can  not  stay,  as  young:  men  have  paid  part  of  the  cattle  to  take  them  as  wives 

and  will  not  consent.  Fathers  will  not  return  cattle. 


20 


WITCHCRAFT 


Sr—'  "lEVEKAL  girls  were  praying  with  some  heathen 
girls  when  one  began  to  hyiza  (a  peculiar  cry 
given  by  girls  who  suppose  love  medicine  has 
been  thrown  upon  them).  This  cry  awakened 
the  same  feeling  in  another  girl  upon  whom  love  medicine 
had  been  thrown  a  couple  of  years  previous.  Now  the 
medicine  had  “waked  up”  and  she  joined  in  the  cry.  Two 
more  started  and  it  looked  as  if  a  general  stampede  would 
follow.  One  ran  outside  and  away  through  the  pasture 
and  into  the  bush.  One  of  the  lady  missionaries  followed 
with  a  lantern,  running  for  half  a  mile  through  the  dark¬ 
ness,  only  able  to  discern  the  direction  by  the  cry.  Some 
of  the  girls  ran  for  one  of  the  men  missionaries.  It  is 
remarkable  the  power  that  this  belief  has  upon  them. 
They  do  not  seem  responsible  for  the  time  being.  Often 
they  complain  of  severe  pain  in  the  shoulder.  “Is  there 
no  balm  in  Gilead?  Is  there  no  healing  there?”  “Yes, 
thank  God !  These  demon-possessed  souls  have  become 
quieted  by  being  asked  to  kneel  and  there  upon  their 
knees  repeat  the  name  of  Jesus.  Over  and  over  again, 
as  it  is  repeated,  it  sinks  deeper  and  deeper  into  their 
hearts  and  minds  until  a  peaceful  calm  and  a  rational 
mind  has  come  to  them.”  “All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus’ 
name!  Let  angels  prostrate  fall.” 


How  glad  Ntombinkulu  was  that  she  had  been  brought 
up  a  Christian  and  not  given  to  these  mysterious  ex¬ 
citements  which  even  the  old  Christians  say  cannot  be 
helped.  The  younger  generation  are  realizing  its  foolish¬ 
ness.  The  Christian  young  men  declare  that  water 
thrown  upon  them  would  have  the  same  effect  because 
they  believe  in  it. 

“Jehovah  does  not  allow  these  bad  things  of  Satan  in 
the  school,”  said  a  former  pupil.  “Two  or  three  years 
ago  a  girl  wanted  to  mix  love  medicine  to  give  to  a  boy. 
She  kept  another  girl  at  home  from  prayer-meeting  one 
morning  on  the  pretense  of  sickness.  They  went  to  the 
bush  and  gathered  roots,  leaves  and  bark,  ground  them 
between  two  stones  and  had  them  ready  for  bottling. 
When  she  went  to  her  box  for  the  bottle,  Jehovah  smote 
her  to  the  floor.  She  was  still  lying  there  when  the  school 
came  from  the  prayer-meeting.  A  few  gathered  about  her 
and  prayed  most  earnestly.  In  half  an  hour’s  time  she 
awoke.  She  was  much  frightened  and  said  Jehovah  had 
shown  her  the  awful  sin  and  its  sure  punishment.  She 
prayed  most  earnestly  and  felt  she  had  the  Lord’s  for¬ 
giveness.” 

“Do  you  know  that  Ponsiwee  has  gone?”  whispered 
the  house  girls  to  the  garden  girls  as  they  came  up  to 
breakfast.  “Yes,  because  she  is  sick,  her  mother  thinks 
the  witches  have  now  found  her  again  so  she  carried  her 
off.  She  came  at  five  o’clock.  Ponsiwee  had  been  given 
no  bath  nor  breakfast  and  was  taken  right  out  of  her  sick 
bed.  The  missionaries  begged  the  mother  to  leave  her. 


They  said  her  temperature  was  101  degrees  and  she 
would  die,  but  the  mother  would  not  listen.  So  they 
prayed  and  the  mother  fastened  Ponsiwee  on  her  back 
with  her  shawl  and  left.  We  shall  miss  that  dear  little 
sunshine  and  perhaps  never  see  her  again.  The  mother 
will  follow  our  custom  of  taking  her  to  a  different  kraal 
every  night  after  dark  and  leaving  with  her  before  day¬ 
light  so  the  witches  won’t  see.” 

A  lively  discussion  among  the  girls  followed,  some 
holding  to  the  old  heathen  traditions  while  others  were 
strongly  opposed  to  them.  A  native  teacher  coming  upon 
them  and  answering  their  queries  soon  quieted  the 
heathen  upholders. 


mHE  days  at  the  school  passed  so  happily  by  and 
were  so  full  of  incidents  that  Ntombinkulu  had 
little  time  to  be  homesick.  She  was  so  glad  to  live 
and  to  help  here  and  there.  One  morning  while  she 
was  sweeping  the  verandas  two  heathen  women  came  with 
their  babies  on  their  backs.  They  wanted  medicine.  One 
baby  had  its  feet  covered  with  a  mass  of  sores ;  the  other 
was  badly  burned.  The  mother  had  been  off  to  a  beer- 
drink,  came  home  drunk,  picked  up  the  baby  and  was 
holding  it  by  the  fire.  Drowsiness  soon  overcame  her 
and  she  let  the  little  one  roll  into  the  fire.  She  was  too 


21 


stupid  to  mind  its  wailing,  but  another  child  saved  it. 
Almost  every  day  the  heathen  or  Christians  came  to  the 
missionaries  to  be  doctored. 

A  Christian  man  came  with  a  toothache.  He  stayed 
until  it  was  well  and  then  went  off.  The  missionary 
kept  wondering  why  he  did  not  even  thank  them  for  the 
service  rendered.  Finally  one  of  the  girls  spoke  up  and 
said,  “It  is  our  custom.  We  fear  the  pain  would  come 
back,  but  you  will  see  another  thank.”  Sure  enough,  the 
next  morning  as  Ntombinkulu  was  at  her  veranda  work 
the  man's  wife  came  carrying  a  big  basket  of  sweet  pota¬ 
toes  on  her  head,  saying  it  was  a  gift  from  her  husband. 

One  of  the  most  obstinate  of  native  diseases  is  the 
Natal  sore.  These  sores  get  as  large  as  the  palm  of  the 
hand  and  are  open  from  six  weeks  to  as  many  months. 
Being  infectious,  when  they  get  into  the  schools  it  is  no 
pleasant  nor  easy  task  to  treat  them  daily.  Typhoid  fever 
and  the  many  tropical  diseases  are  brought  to  the  mis¬ 
sionaries  for  treatment,  keeping  them  busy  many  a  weary 
night  after  the  day  of  toil.  As  many  as  fifteen  cases 
of  these  sores  have  been  needing  treatment  at  one  time. 
The  confidence  that  the  Christian  has  in  the  missionary 
and  their  God  against  the  suspicions  of  the  heathen 
causes  the  missionary  to  work  and  pray  for  their  healing 
that  he  may  be  a  true  ambassador  for  the  All-Sufficient 
One  he  represents. 

Ntombinkulu  learned  much  about  the  power  of  God 
in  healing.  Girls  who  were  sick  were  always  prayed  for 
and  many  were  healed.  Sometimes  there  were  numbers 


22 


at  the  altars  praying  for  healing  of  their  bodies  from 
other  affections,  especially  old  and  deep  wounds.  These 
wounds  have  healed  over  and  left  a  scar,  but  in  damp 
weather  the  pain  is  so  severe  that  they  have  to  lie  on 
their  mats  in  the  hospital  room.  The  hospital  room  was 
added  with  money  sent  to  make  a  big  cistern.  However, 
the  well  girls  were  better  able  to  bring  water  up  from  the 
river  than  the  sick  ones  were  to  mingle  with  the  others 
in  the  sleeping  rooms. 

One  of  the  special  cases  was  that  of  a  class  mate  of 
Ntombinkulu.  One  hot  Sunday  in  November,  Ida  was 
leaving  the  Sunday-school  class-room  and  stubbed  her 
toe  on  the  door  sill.  It  was  doctored  on  her  arrival  at 
the  school  but  did  not  yield  to  treatments  readily.  In 
spite  of  all  efforts  it  continued  to  grow  worse  and  many 
hours  in  the  night  would  be  spent  in  suffering.  The  mis¬ 
sionaries  and  the  girls  would  get  up  and  pray  with  her, 
which  quieted  her,  enabling  her  to  get  some  sleep.  In 
this  way  she  gradually  showed  signs  of  improvement. 

The  Christmas  holidays  came  on,  but  instead  of  going 
home  she  was  obliged  to  spend  most  of  her  time  on  the 
mat.  The  girls  remaining  through  the  holidays  were 
especially  anxious  that  she  should  be  dressed  and  join 
them  at  Christmas  dinner.  To  this  the  missionaries  con¬ 
sented.  They  dressed  her  and  nearly  carried  her  to  the 
table.  Toward  evening  the  missionary  passing  the  hos¬ 
pital  heard  groans,  and  upon  entering,  found  Ida  in 
severe  pain  again.  Upon  examination  there  was  found 
to  be  a  blue  line  extending  from  the  injured  toe  to  the 


ankle.  This  looked  serious  indeed,  but  she  could  but 
bathe  it  and  again  commit  her  to  God.  The  night  was 
an  anxious  one.  At  six  o’clock  the  next  morning  the 
patient’s  jaws  were  set.  Notes  were  quickly  taken  to 
other  missionaries  then  at  the  Station  and  five  came  and 
gathered  in  the  hospital  room  for  prayer.  The  Lord  was 
very  near  and  it  was  easy  to  pray.  After  some  time  one 
spoke  up,  saying,  “Ida,  say,  ‘Praise  the  Lord,’  for  He  is 
here  to  hear  you.”  She  smiled  and  tried  it  successfully 
several  times.  Grasping  still  more  faith  then  another 
said,  “Now  you  lead  us  in  prayer.”  This  she  started  to 
do,  gaining  all  the  time  until  at  the  close  she  was  able 
to  speak  quite  distinctly.  With  joy  she  looked  upon  the 
band  of  praying  ones  and  said,  “Why,  I  have  found  a  new 
religion.  Jesus  not  only  saves  the  soul  but  heals  the 
body.”  It  was  between  ten  and  eleven  o’clock  that  morn¬ 
ing  before  the  missionaries  sat  down  to  breakfast,  but 
their  souls  had  been  fed  far  earlier. 

Next  morning  her  jaws  were  in  normal  condition,  but 
her  eyes  were  locked,  also  her  tongue.  Prayer  soon  re¬ 
leased  this  distress  and  she  then  began  to  recover.  The 
news  spread  throughout  the  country.  The  people  said  it 
was  Jehovah,  for  this  was  a  sickness  not  cured  by  man. 

This  girl  came  into  the  school  in  her  heathen  blanket 
several  years  previous.  She  was  a  runaway.  Her  parents 
were  very  angry  and  came  for  her  several  times,  but  she 
refused  to  go.  When  she  went  home  in  vacation  they 
burned  her  clothes  and  she  was  beaten  frequently.  Final¬ 
ly  her  Christian  life  brought  forth  fruit  and  her  mother 


23 


24 


became  a  Christian.  After  that,  during  the  vacations 
she  would  gather  the  children  of  the  neighborhood  about 
her  and  teach  them.  In  her  prayer  meetings  a  number  of 
the  parents  became  Christians,  asking  that  a  regular 
evangelist  be  sent,  also  a  teacher.  Among  these  converts 
was  her  father.  He  gave  up  his  beer  drinks  and  snuff 
and  heathenish  ways.  He  had  three  wives.  He  was  con¬ 
sidering  his  duty  concerning  them  when  one  day  he 
was  struck  on  the  head  from  the  back  by  an  enemy  wield¬ 
ing  a  knob-kerrie  and  died  a  week  after.  To  a  girl  of 
her  influence  such  an  experience  in  being  brought  back 
to  life  through  the  healing  power  of  God  would  be  espe¬ 
cially  helpful  to  her  as  she  works  among  her  people,  and 
the  missionaries  expect  great  things  from  her. 


EXAMINATIONS 


Their  faces  were  alive  with  youth  and  happi¬ 
ness  and  a  keen  desire  to  get  from  their  lessons  all  that 
they  would  need  to  help  them  pass  the  inspection.  What 
will  be  asked  in  Geography,  Arithmetic,  etc.,  was 
the  topic  of  daily  conversation.  Even  the  heathen  girls 
were  anxious.  They  have  lost  their  blank,  benighted  look. 
One  would  not  know  that  these  sparkling-eyed  young 
damsels  taking  on  the  gospel  and  the  gentler  arts  of 


T 


I1E  great  excitement  before  the  holidays  was  the 
coming  of  the  Government  Inspector  of  Native 
Schools  to  give  them  their  annual  examinations. 


civilization  were  the  same  who  came  in  their  mud  and 
grease  but  a  few  months  previous. 

Though  Ntombinkulu  had  been  in  a  government 
school  all  her  life  she  had  seen  the  Inspector  but  twice. 
Her  home  school  was  so  far  away  that  he  generally  wrote 
to  the  missionary  in  charge  to  give  the  examination.  She 
wanted  to  do  her  best  and  the  subject  of  her  daily  prayer 
was  that  the  Lord  would  give  her  the  wisdom  needed  to 
pass  nicely  in  all  her  studies.  In  fact  this  was  the  topic 
of  prayer  for  all  the  girls.  The  last  few  days  their  appe¬ 
tites  almost  left  them.  Eagerly  they  questioned  one  an¬ 
other  on  probable  questions  and  earnestly  they  prayed  for 
Jehovah  to  open  their  dark  minds. 

Such  a  flurry  as  there  was  on  the  long-looked-for  morn¬ 
ing!  Such  combing,  and  oiling,  and  shaking  out  of  Sun¬ 
day  clothes !  As  the  Inspector  walked  into  the  school¬ 
room  the  demure  manners,  assumed  for  the  occasion, 
would  blind  one  to  their  roguery  and  make  one  feel  these 
grave  faces  never  knew  how  to  smile,  but  the  Inspector 
understands  them  and  with  a  happy  introduction  in  Zulu 
on  things  they  know  well,  he  puts  them  at  ease  and  brings 
out  their  best. 

Afterwards  Ntombinkulu  wrote  to  one  of  the  mission¬ 
aries  in  the  homeland,  telling  of  the  examination : 

Pair  View  Girls'  Home, 
Umzumbi  Rail,  Natal,  South  Africa. 

Dear  Miss  R - :  This  is  a  happy  day  to  me 

as  I  am  writing  you  this  letter,  telling  you  about 


25 


Mother  insists  on  taking  home  her  runaway  girls 


Heathen  grandmother  and  Christian  grandchild  Father  has  come  for  his  runaway  daughter.  Miss  Allen 
(Ponsiwe)  pleads  for  her  to  remain  and  become  a  Christian 


26 


our  examinations.  It  was  on  the  third  day  of 
December.  I  began  before  the  examination  pray¬ 
ing  to  the  Lord  to  help  me  to  pass  my  examina¬ 
tion.  When  the  examination  came  I  believed 
that  I  was  going  to  pass. 

The  lessons  were  hard,  especially  the  arith¬ 
metic,  and  my  heart  began  to  look  down  and  the 
enemy  told  me  that  you  are  not  going  to  pass 
though  you  prayed. 

I  began  to  pray  and  to  think  about  the  words 

spoken  by  Miss  S - .  This  gave  me  another 

thought. 

I  handed  the  Inspector  the  papers;  we  went 
out.  I  asked  some  of  my  class,  “What  was 
your  first  answer?”  Some  told  me  just  what  it 
was  on  my  paper.  I  clapped  my  hands  and  I 
thanked  God.  After  dinner  we  heard  the  bell 
ringing;  we  ran  to  the  school-room. 

The  Inspector  called  the  names  of  those  who 
passed;  he  called  mine  too.  Most  of  the  girls 
passed  and  they  went  outside  and  were  jumping 
and  running  and  clapping  their  hands  over  their 
heads  and  shouting  with  joy. 

Before  we  went  to  bed  we  had  praise  meet¬ 
ing.  Many  girls  were  praising  the  Lord  to  know 
that  there  is  power  in  prayer. 

At  night  I  thought  of  your  last  words  which 
you  spoke  to  me  at  the  station.  And  now  I  am 
thanking  your  advice  because  now  I  have  passed 


the  ISixth  Standard.  My  heart  is  praising  my 
Lord.  With  best  konzelas  to  America, 

Yours  truly, 

Ntombinkulu  Cele. 

“When  the  Inspector  asked  for  a  composition,  on  what 
subject  did  you  write?”  asked  Ntombinkulu  of  one  of  her 
class  mates.  “I  wrote  on  bees,”  said  one.  "Read  it  for  us.” 

“Miss  R -  and  Miss  E — —  are  making  boxes  for 

bees.  The  bees  are  in  the  boxes.  They  want  the  bees 
to  make  honey  inside  the  boxes  of  planks.  The  boxes  are 
new  and  they  are  clean  too.  Bees  can  fly.  They  can  put 
stings  to  a  person  too.  The  bees  have  queens.  They 
listen  to  their  queens  very  politely.” 

“I  wrote  about  snakes,”  said  another,  “and  now  I  will 
read  you  mine.” 

“The  snake  is  a  bad,  dangerous  animal  in  the  world. 
The  snakes  stay  in  their  holes  although  they  often  come 
out  to  disturb  us  in  our  yards  and  in  our  houses.  I  often 
said,  ‘Why  does  the  Lord  create  the  snakes  when  they  dis¬ 
obey  so  much?’  I  once  heard  a  story  about  a  boy  who 
was  bitten  by  a  snake  up  in  a  tree.  He  was  getting  some 
plums  to  eat.  When  he  was  in  one  of  the  branches  he 
felt  something  biting  him,  he  did  not  know  what  it  was. 
After  a  time  he  fell  down;  soon  he  was  dead.  Oh,  those 
animals  are  fearful !  Indeed  they  often  kill  our  dogs 
when  they  go  to  hunt  for  us  some  deer  in  the  woods. 

“Let  me  tell  you  a  story  that  happened  this  last  vaca¬ 
tion.  My  brother  went  out  with  his  dog  Rover.  I  want 


27 


2.  Coming  to  school — tin  trunks 


3.  Dish-washing 
5.  Water  bringing 


1.  Hoeing  in  school  gardens 
4,  Bringing  in  fire  wood 


28 


to  tell  you  this,  that  this  dog  did  not  come  back  because 
of  the  snakes.  Oh,  that  dog  was  lovely  ;  he  was  a  tiny  dog 
and  always  followed  my  brother.  It  was  always  looking 
after  him.  We  expected  Rover  to  come  back,  but  he  did 
not.  Oh,  we  were  sorry  about  my  brother’s  dog  Rover. 
My  brother  cried  about  his  dog  Rover.  Oh,  that  dog! 
Nobody  knew  what  was  the  matter  with  my  brother. 

“In  small  opinion  I  think  that  snakes  are  useless. 
They  are  creatures  that  trouble  the  people  very  much.  I 
don’t  know  who  told  them  to  disobey  the  people.  Those 
things,  although  they  are  little,  they  have  strength  in 
biting  the  people.  Once  my  family’s  bride  (father’s  last 
wife)  related  a  story  how  the  snake  hurt  her.  While  she 
was  in  the  potato  garden  digging  the  potatoes  she  felt 
something  sting  in  her  foot.  She  did  not  know  what  it 
was.  She  dug  and  she  carried  some  potatoes;  she  was 
going  to  cross  the  river;  then  she  crossed  it.  (Sure  death 
to  one  bitten  b}r  a  snake  to  cross  a  river  is  the  African 
belief).  She  came  home.  She  did  not  tell  anybody.  She 
stayed  and  stayed.  The  sting  went  on  and  on  till  it 
reached  her  heart.  The  foot  and  the  leg  were  swollen  up. 
She  saw  a  black  spot  starting  on  her  foot  going  up  her 
leg.  By  and  by  she  began  to  say,  ‘I  am  thirsty.’  If  they 
had  not  given  her  some  medicine  she  would  have  died  be¬ 
cause  of  the  snake.  Oh,  it  is  bad  and  fearful  to  look  at 
and  in  my  heart  it  says  it  is  bad,  but  it  is  kind  to  the 
little  ones.  I  wonder  why  it  is  kind  to  them  but  not  to  us?” 

“Oh,  it  is  very  hard  to  write  in  English.  I  don’t  know 
how  to  talk  English — I.”  “Why  did  the  missionary  smile 


when  I  answered  my  question  in  Geography,”  said  Ntom- 
binkulu.  “I  don’t  know,”  replied  one,  “what  did  you 
say?”  “She  asked  me  what  kind  of  weather  we  had  in 
summer,  and  I  said,  we  have  thundering  summers.”  “We 
don't  see  anything  funny  in  that,”  said  one  of  the  girls. 
“Perhaps  yon  can  tell  why  she  smiled  at  me,”  said  Bes¬ 
sie.  “She  didn’t  smile  just;  she  laughed  and  laughed  until 
the  tears  ran  down.  This  was  last  week  when  we  changed 
work.  I  was  working  in  the  missionary’s  room ;  every  day 
the  missionary  would  come  in  and  say,  ‘Bessie,  can’t  you 
see  that  the  rugs  are  not  straight?  Can  you  see  those 
cracks  in  the  floor?  Lay  them  so  that  they  are  just  side 
by  side  with  the  cracks.’  This  week  I  was  given  the 
table  to  set.  I  thought  I  would  surprise  her  and  get  it 
right  the  first  thing  and  I  set  the  salt  and  pepper,  sugar 
and  spoons  and  food  all  in  a  row  along  side  of  the  fold 
in  the  tablecloth.  When  she  came  her  eyes  got  big  with 
surprise  and  then  she  began  to  laugh.  Then  she  put  the 
things  all  over  the  table  crooked.  What  was  funny?” 
“We  don’t  know.”  “The  white  people  are  wonderful.” 


VACATION 


THE  most  of  the  girls  went  home  during  vaca¬ 
tion.  But  those  coming  from  heathen  homes 
whose  parents  forbade  their  being  Christians 
remained.  They  cared  for  the  gardens,  where 
during  this  hottest  season  the  weeds  grew  fast.  The 


29 


Medical  work 


Heathen  baby’s  feet  are  raw  with  sores 


Child  has  fallen  into  the  fire  and  been  badly  burned. 
Heathen  mother  asks  help  medically 


30 


missionaries  took  them  kraal  visiting  and  one  day  they 
spent  bathing  in  the  Indian  Ocean.  Some  had  never  seen 
the  ocean  before  and  were  frightened  at  first,  but  soon 
they  were  able  to  jump  the  incoming  billows  and  chase 
the  crabs  left  clear  on  the  sands. 

Ntombinkulu  went  home  and  many  were  the  happy 
hours  she  passed  hoeing  beside  her  mother  and  younger 
sisters  in  the  garden  and  telling  them  the  events  of  school 
life.  Then  there  was  much  that  had  happened  at  home 
which  was  equally  interesting  to  her.  “Did  Nomayeza 
get  to  go  to  the  station  school,  mother?”  “Yes,  she  attended 
part  of  the  time.  Our  missionary  went  over  to  see  her 
father  after  I  had  been  there  several  times.  Her  father, 
Maplankwe,  was  polite,  but  he  said  he  could  not  let  his 
daughter  go  to  school  because  her  mother  was  not  strong 
and  Nomayeza  must  help  hoe,  plant  and  drive  away  the 
monkeys  and  birds  from  the  gardens.  She  must  also  help 
carry  the  water  and  bring  the  firewood.  He  is  a  great, 
strong  man,  and  when  I  went  there,  was  stretched  out 
on  the  grass,  taking  snuff.  He  could  not  help,  that  was  a 
woman’s  work !  The  missionary  did  not  give  up  easily 
and  she  talked  to  Maplankwe  until  a  ray  of  light  some¬ 
how  crept  into  his  brain  and  it  was  not  very  long  before 
Nomayeza  actually  came  to  school.  She  was  happy  and 
also  very  thankful  for  a  chance  to  learn  to  read  and  to 
be  among  Christians. 

“You  remember  Nomkandhlu?  She  had  to  go  and  be 
the  third  wife  of  Jobo.  She  hates  him  and  cried,  but  they 
tied  a  string  around  her  little  finger  until  she  consented. 


We  did  all  we  could  to  prevent  it,  but  it  was  of  no  avail. 
Poor  child,  she  will  have  to  settle  down  to  a  life  of 
drudgery  with  her  husband’s  other  wives.  If  she  does  not 
work  hard  enough  he  will  beat  her.” 

“There  are  many  Christians  near  the  school  at  Fair 
View,”  said  Ntombinkulu,  “and  we  do  not  hear  of  as  many 
heathenish  affairs  as  we  do  up  here.”  “I  am  glad,”  said 
the  mother,  “Christ  makes  many  changes  when  He  comes 
to  rule  in  men’s  hearts.”  “The  witch-doctors  do  not  use 
human  flesh  to  fertilize  gardens  there,  do  they?”  asked  the 
mother.  “No,  I  did  not  hear  of  any.  Were  there  some 
here  this  spring?”  “Yes,  one  strange  old  woman  was 
passing  through  selling  tobacco.  She  stopped  at  a  stream 
to  bathe  her  feet.  Some  men  had  seen  her  pass  and  fol¬ 
lowed  her.  One  shouted,  ‘Seize  the  buck.’  Another  then 
rushed  upon  her,  struck  her  upon  the  head  and  she  knew 
no  more.  It  was  towards  evening,  so  they  hid  her  body 
away  among  the  bushes  until  dark;  then  they  took  it  to 
the  witch-doctor  and  asked  him  to  doctor  their  gardens. 
This  he  did,  and  I  hear  the  English  government  officials 
have  heard  of  the  matter  and  are  trying  to  find  the  men. 
Over  on  our  work  at  the  Umkulwani  a  witch-doctor  has 
been  converted,  so  we  may  be  encouraged.” 

“Mother,  do  you  believe  in  these  old  Zulu  customs  of 
ours?”  “No,  my  child,  those  customs  that  will  bring  some 
one  pain  or  harm  are  indeed  heathenish.  Jesus  has 
brought  light.  Most  of  our  customs  are  deeds  of  dark¬ 
ness,  but  we  trust  His  light  will  soon  scatter  them.  We 
must  stir  ourselves  still  more  to  help  our  people  learn  of 


Jesus  and  His  love.  I  am  so  anxious  for  you  to  finish  your 
school  work,  so  we  will  have  one  more  to  help.” 

"I  can  do  much  at  school,  mother.  There  are  a  num¬ 
ber  of  heathen  girls  at  school  and  we  take  them  off  in  the 
deep  grass  or  trees  and  pray  with  them  every  day.  They 
have  all  these  heathen  ideas,  so  while  we  are  hoeing  in 
the  gardens  we  try  to  help  them  to  give  up  these  ideas. 
You  would  have  laughed  to  have  seen  one  of  the  girls. 
Some  of  them  went  to  the  store  some  distance  away  and 
bought  some  candy;  among  the  pieces  was  strong  pepper¬ 
mint.  This  girl  got  one.  The  strength  went  up  into  her 
nose  and  throat  so  strangely  that  she  was  frightened  and 
ran  crying,  ‘I  am  bewitched,  I  am  bewitched!’  The  girls 
had  given  some  to  one  of  the  missionaries  who  called  her 
and  said,  ‘You  ate  one,  I  ate  three;  I  shall  be  bewitched 
first,  so  watch  me.’  But  the  missionary  was  not  sick. 
When  the  girl  became  quiet  she  took  her  to  the  medicine 
cupboard  and  showed  her  some  medicine  that  smelled  just 
the  same  and  explained  its  use.  The  girl  soon  got  over 
her  fright. 

‘‘Once  I  myself  was  frightened.  It  was  towards  eve 
ning.  Some  girls  came  into  the  house  saying  there  was 
an  evil  spirit  down  in  the  old  mealie  garden.  I  went  out¬ 
side  and  sure  enough,  there  was  a  bright  light  down  there. 
One  of  the  missionaries  said  she  had  never  seen  an  evil 
spirit,  so  she  wanted  to  go  and  see  this  one.  The  girls  said, 
‘Oh,  no,  it  would  kill  her.’  Those  people  of  America  had 
trusted  her  with  us  Africans  and  we  could  not  let  her  die. 
She  said  she  would  not  die  and  insisted  on  going.  When 


31 


we  saw  she  was  really  going,  some  of  us  went  along.  We 
begged  her  all  the  way  not  to  go  and  took  hold  of  her 
skirts,  saying,  ‘If  she  died,  we  would  die  with  her.’  She 
just  laughed  and  went  on.  We  trembled  terribly.  When 
we  got  quite  near  she  ran  away  from  us  and  went  right  to 
the  light.  She  took  it  in  her  hand  and  called  it  a  glow¬ 
worm.  She  told  us  about  it,  then  took  it  up  to  the  school¬ 
room  and  showed  it  to  all  the  girls,  telling  them  about 
its  life  and  habits.  I  am  sure  that  none  of  those  girls 
will  believe  in  that  evil  spirit  again  and  they  can  teach 
their  parents  when  they  get  home.  Something  happens 
almost  every  day  that  the  missionaries  show  us  is  not  as 
the  heathen  believes.” 


SCHOOL  AGAIN 


Tr“ "1  HE  first  week  of  February  came  all  too  soon, 
;  when  school  should  open  again.  The  da}7s  were 
still  very  hot.  Ntombinkulu  and  the  other  girls 
started  for  school,  as  before,  only  starting  late 
in  the  afternoon,  when  they  could  travel  in  the  evening, 
for  the  moon  was  full.  They  slept  in  a  heathen  kraal, 
having  prayers  with  the  people  and  pointing  them  to 
Jesus. 

The  next  morning  was  cloudy,  with  a  big  thunder¬ 
storm  threatening,  but  the  girls  journeyed  on  their  way. 
They  would  find  shelter  some  place.  What  cared  they  for 


32 


mud  and  water  when  they  had  neither  shoes  nor  stockings 
to  soil !  Soon  the  sky  became  darkened  with  heavy,  black 
clouds  rolling  into,  or  scudding  by  one  another.  A  battle 
of  clouds  hastens  to  come  on !  The  wind  had  been  gather¬ 
ing  strength  and  the  trees  were  swaying  under  its  furious 
blasts  while  the  dust  circled  around  in  whirlwinds  and 
scurried  down  the  road.  Presently  there  was  a  lull,  a 
death  like  silence,  as  if  the  storm  was  catching  its  breath 
for  a  greater  effort;  then  came  a  low  roll  of  thunder  and 
big  drops  made  the  dust  rise  as  they  struck  the  thirsty 
ground.  The  girls  were  crossing  a  stream  almost  hidden 
by  the  bushes  and  trees  which  grew  in  rich  profusion  on 
its  banks.  Almost  overhanging  the  water’s  edge  were 
some  great  rocks  which  formed  the  wall  of  a  gorge.  Upon 
close  examination  they  found  a  suitable  shelter  under 
these  rocks.  They  pushed  their  food,  in  pillow  cases, 
farther  in  on  the  shelf-like  projection,  then  found  comfort¬ 
able  places  for  themselves.  They  laughed  and  chatted  to 
think  they  had  so  cozy  a  room.  “We  have  food  and  could 
stay  here  a  long  time  if  necessary.”  “We  will  imagine 
we  are  Bushmen,”  but  they  stopped  suddenly.  A  vivid 
flash  of  lightning,  followed  by  one  mighty  clap  of  thunder, 
silenced  them.  It  sounded  as  if  the  great  rocks  above 
them  would  be  split  asunder.  They  listened  breathless¬ 
ly,  fearing  some  might  come  tumbling  down.  Again  and 
again  with  gathering  strength  the  storm  broke  into  rend¬ 
ing  roars  which  shook  the  earth  and  echoed  and  re¬ 
echoed  all  along  till  it  slowly  sank  into  a  mournful  moan. 
A  death-like  silence!  Not  a  sound  to  break  the  awful 


hush ;  then  relief,  for  faster  and  faster  the  raindrops  fell. 
For  over  an  hour  the  heavens  seemed  to  open  their  very 
flood  gates !  The  girls  did  not  talk,  for  the  noise  was  too 
great.  Gradually,  however,  it  passed  over,  sunshine  came 
and  they  were  glad  enough  to  be  relieved  from  their  Bush¬ 
man's  cave,  so  started  out  paddling  along  through  the 
rivulets  in  and  beside  the  road.  The  African  storm  had 
passed ! 

How  good  to  be  back  to  school  again  to  greet  old  and 
new  acquaintances,  to  join  in  prayer  and  song  again 
with  the  beloved  missionaries  who  had  been  busy  pre¬ 
paring  everything  for  their  comfort  and  happiness.  The 
rooms  had  been  freshly  whitewashed  and  cleaned,  with 
some  new  things  added.  Eagerly  they  rushed  into  the 
school-room  to  play  on  the  little  organ  and  hear  its  “sweet 
cry.”  The  gardens  had  been  doing  well,  so  that  now  there 
was  fresh  foods  and  all  looked  forward  to  a  prosperous 
term.  So  many  girls  came  that  sleeping  room  had  to  be 
found  for  them  on  the  school-room  floor,  out  on  the 
verandas  and  a  tent  was  set  up.  How  the  missionaries 
longed  for  new  buildings  that  they  might  keep  and  train 
this  rising  womanhood  of  Africa. 

“What  a  dark  morning,”  said  one  of  the  missionaries. 
“We  shall  have  another  storm.”  “Oh,  no!”  cried  the 
girls,  “LOCUSTS!”  A  dark  cloud  could  be  seen  coming 
from  the  west,  and  before  breakfast  was  over  a  few  locusts 
were  already  in  the  air.  “Go  into  the  school-room  for 
prayers,”  was  the  order.  “Then  all  will  have  to  go  to  the 
gardens  and  drive  locusts  to-day,  except  the  dinner  cooks. 


33 


34 


At  the  ringing  of  the  first  dinner  bell  a  third  of  you  may 
come.  When  they  have  returned  to  the  gardens  a  second 
third  may  come  and  then  the  others.” 

All  day  long  armed  with  brush,  the  girls  marched  up 
and  down  the  rows  of  corn,  beans,  sweet  potatoes  and 
other  plants,  keeping  the  locusts  from  settling.  The  sun 
was  very  hot,  so  they  made  themselves  hats  with  banana 
leaves.  The  little  children  followed,  gathering  locusts  and 
stringing  them  on  a  long  switch.  They  would  then  take 
them  to  their  camp-fires  where  they  would  roast  them  and 
have  a  feast  of  fresh  meat.  The  next  day  proved  no  bet¬ 
ter,  and  the  girls  were  in  the  gardens  before  sunrise. 
They  sang  as  they  marched,  recited  some  of  their  lessons 
aloud,  tried  to  talk  English,  took  turns  going  to  meals 
and  reported  less  locusts.  The  third  day  began  to  look 
serious !  They  sang  less  and  prayed  more.  They  were 
sure  God  heard  prayer,  for  about  three  o’clock  a  land 
breeze  arose  with  such  strength  that  the  locusts  were 
driven  eastward  and  must  have  been  swept  into  the  sea 
(Indian  Ocean). 

“Please  ma’am,”  said  Ntombinkulu,  “Nozitini’s  mother 
is  here  and  wants  to  speak  to  her.  AT  ay  she  go  out?”  All 
were  busy  at  their  lessons.  The  missionary  nodded  assent 
and  Nozitini  slipped  quietly  out.  All  had  not  kept  study¬ 
ing  though,  for  a  hand  suddenly  went  up  and  a  girl  spoke 
out  excitedly,  “Please  ma’am,  her  mother  is  running  away 
with  her.  May  we  go  after  her?”  Again  the  missionary 
nodded,  and  this  time  all  the  school,  not  in  classes,  hastily 
ran  out  shouting  to  the  woman  to  leave  the  girl.  She  re¬ 


fused  and  began  to  swing  her  sticks  at  them.  Two  or 
three  made  a  rush.  They  wrenched  her  sticks  from  her 
while  the  others  had  gotten  the  child.  The  woman  stormed 
and  fumed  and  scolded,  threatening  to  go  to  the  magis¬ 
trate,  but  the  girls  simply  smiled  and  returned  to  the 
school-room  with  Nozitini. 

Nozitini  was  a  wild  little  girl.  One  of  the  missionaries 
lovingly  called  her,  “My  little  wild  cat.”  It  took  a  long 
time  for  her  to  realize  what  being  a  Christian  really 
meant.  At  first  she  would  tell  lies  and  be  proud  of  her 
many  naughty  ways.  She  had  a  fiery  temper,  and  when 
angry  would  throw  up  her  arms  and  scream  and  jump  up 
and  down.  She  did  all  these  things  as  easily  and  happily 
as  she  breathed.  She  loved  to  hear  and  tell  the  vilest 
stories.  All  her  thoughts  were  of  self.  To  get  the  big¬ 
gest  share  and  best  of  everything  had  been  her  heathen 
training.  The  Golden  Rule  was  yet  a  long  way  from  her 
heart,  but  every  day  she  heard  about  it  now.  The  beauty 
of  self-denial,  a  forgiving  spirit,  obedience,  purity  of 
heart,  truthfulness,  cleanliness  of  body,  the  Christ  life, 
Jesus,  heaven,  were  daily  brought  before  her.  How 
strange  and  wonderful  it  was  to  this  wild  girl  of  the 
hills! 

Punishments  often  had  to  come  to  drive  home  a  needed 
lesson.  After  a  time  the  whisperings  of  a  still,  small 
voice  began  to  touch  her.  A  conscience  began  to  grow  in 
Nozitini’s  heart.  She  tried  very  hard  to  be  good.  She 
gave  her  heart  to  Jesus  the  best  she  knew  now,  and 
with  tender  face  and  eyes  streaming  with  tears  went 


35 


School  girl  as  nurse  to  Florence  Haley  Blanche  Smith  and  Carrie  Mzizi,  a  tender  admirer  of  Clarine  Mfeka,  Christian-born  child 

missionary  babies 


36 


about  asking  all  the  girls  to  forgive  her.  For  weeks  at 
a  time  she  would  be  angelic  and  her  dear  patient  teach¬ 
ers  would  rejoice  together  over  her.  Then  all  of  a  sudden 
the  countless  generations  of  heathendom  in  her  blood 
would  appear.  Again  in  humble  prayer  she  would  cry  to 
God  to  help  her.  Again  and  again  she  must  be  taken  by 
the  hand,  lifted  up,  punished,  prayed  with  and  loved 
back  to  trying.  Line  upon  line,  day  after  day,  month 
after  month,  a  character  was  being  built,  a  soul  trained 
for  heaven.  Now  and  then  her  parents  would  send  for 
her,  but  she  constantly  refused  to  go  with  them.  She 
meant  to  stay  until  she  was  like  the  others.  (Description, 
so  fitting  to  every  heathen  girl  seeking  God,  taken  from 
Mrs.  Coles’  “Nomusa.” )  Our  friends  in  America  can 
hardly  understand  the  battle  that  is  daily  being  fought 
by  these  heathen  girls. 

Scores  of  girls  like  her  are  running  away  each  year 
to  come  to  our  schools  and  find  salvation.  When  tired  of 
giving  of  your  means  and  of  your  prayers,  remember  the 
millions  of  children  who  will  grow  up  in  the  awful  dark¬ 
ness  of  heathenism  unless  a  helping  hand  from  America 
is  stretched  out  to  save  them. 

At  noon  a  slate  was  handed  the  missionary;  upon  it 
was  written  the  following: 

Please  Mamma,  there  is  meat  at  my  home. 

May  I  go  home  and  return  in  two  days?  Please, 

I  beg  your  great  kindness,  let  me  do  this  thing. 

I  will  thank  very  much.  Tour  child, 

Nokudhliswa. 


The  kafir  corn  was  now  beginning  to  ripen.  From  the 
kafir  corn  native  beer  is  brewed;  and  this  is  the  season 
for  beer  drinks.  An  ox  is  killed.  Since  the  meat  does 
not  keep,  every  one  invites  himself  to  the  feast ;  meat  is 
roasted  and  beer  Hows  freely.  A  woman  came  for  her 
girl  to  go  home  for  a  few  days  and  carry  beer.  The  girl 
had  now  given  up  beer,  but  felt  obliged  to  obey  her 
parents  and  wanted  to  go.  No  less  than  half  a  dozen  re¬ 
quests  were  made,  all  of  which  the  missionary  refused. 
Tears  flowed ;  then  an  angry  spirit  came  in  and  the  mis¬ 
sionary,  busy  all  day,  spent  nights  in  prayer  and  the  in¬ 
struction  of  these  headstrong  girls.  Other  girls  took  sides, 
until  one  could  feel  harmony  was  slipping  away.  Lessons 
were  laid  aside,  talks  given,  then  prayers.  The  faithful 
ones  got  hold  of  God  in  prayer  and  victory  came,  con¬ 
fessions  were  made  and  forgivenesses  asked.  Tact  and 
wisdom  from  above  is  daily  needed  to  keep  these  girls,  just 
from  heathendom,  on  a  balanced  track  towards  civilization 
and  God.  The  influence  of  the  Christian-born  is  especially 
helpful  at  these  times.  Even  they  have  some  severe  con¬ 
flicts  with  Satan.  All  feel  the  great  need  of  Christ’s 
ruling  spirit  in  their  daily  lives. 

In  answer  to  nights  of  prayer,  God  poured  out  His 
Spirit  upon  them  and  gradually  the  revival  spirit  began. 
Girls  not  present  at  the  previous  term’s  revival  were  now 
given  their  opportunity.  Some  days  there  was  no  school, 
as  these  girls  wept  their  way  to  Jesus.  By  the  close  of 
the  term  every  girl  had  professed  to  be  saved  and  a  num¬ 
ber  gave  clear  evidence  of  a  clean  heart.  Often  their 


37 


38 


prayer  meetings  ran  until  nearly  morning.  No  need  of 
beer  now  to  make  them  dance!  Their  joy  was  in  the  Lord. 

“Sweet  June — because  we  go  home,”  shouted  one  of 
the  girls,  and  others  took  up  the  strain.  “What  shall  we 
give  next  Sunday,  our  last  Sunday?  We,  too,  want  a  thank- 
offering.”  “I  have  thought  of  a  plan,”  said  one.  “Let  us 
eat  our  porridge  morning  and  evening  without  sugar  for 
one  week  and  let  the  missionary  give  us  the  money  for  it. 
This  we  will  give  on  Sunday.”  “Good,  good,”  cried  the 
others,  and  the  missionary  consented. 

Such  a  happy  Sunday !  People  came  to  Sunday-school 
from  all  directions,  looking  as  though  they  were  going 
to  market.  Baskets  of  beans,  corn  and  native  foods  were 
balanced  on  their  heads  as  well  as  long  sticks  of  sugar¬ 
cane,  pumpkins  and  eggs  tied  up  in  old  rags ;  fowls  flopped 
about  on  the  floor  and  the  school  girls  all  marched  up 
with  their  sugar  money.  “This  we  give  to  others  who  do 
not  have  as  much  as  we.” 

The  sermons  and  altar  services  of  the  day  were  grand, 
and  as  the  girls  marched  home  they  felt  they  had  made  a 
great  exchange — robes  of  righteousness  for  the  filth  of 
sin. 

Their  closing  day  of  school  was  one  long  to  be  remem¬ 
bered.  The  spirit  so  came  upon  them  in  the  devotional 
exercises  that  it  looked  as  though  the  prepared  program 
would  have  to  be  postponed.  Together,  the  redeemed 
heathen  and  the  missionaries  could  sav,  “We  have  made 
no  sacrifices!  All  toil,  privation,  loneliness,  fatigue  and 
burden-bearing  are  lost  in  the  great  sea  of  His  omnipotent 


love.  Gladly  will  we  toil  and  suffer,  only  let  us  walk  with 
Thee.” 


CLARINE 


CiLARINE  is  one  of  our  little  Christian  girls.  She  is 
thirteen  years  old.  Her  father  is  head  teacher 
of  the  largest  day  school  for  natives  in  Natal. 
He  has  five  assistant  teachers,  and  over  two  hun¬ 
dred  scholars.  The  mother  was  also  a  teacher  before  she 
was  married.  Both  are  full  Zulus,  converts  of  the  Ameri¬ 
can  Board  Mission.  Clarine  attended  her  father’s  school 
until  she  had  passed  the  Fourth  Standard,  which  is  the 
highest  standard  taught  in  the  station  schools.  Then 
the  father  sent  his  daughter  to  Fair  View,  with  the  earnest 
expressed  wish  that  special  attention  be  given  to  her 
spiritual  training.  Following  are  extracts  of  letters, 
translated  into  English,  which  were  written  to  Clarine 
by  her  parents: 

A  ZULU  MOTHER  TO  HER  DAUGHTER 

My  dear  Daughter :  I  was  greatly  rejoiced  to 
receive  your  letter  my  child.  I  had  much  pain 
because  you  had  not  written.  We  have  bought 
you  a  wrap,  and  your  father  will  send  it  at  once. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  that  you  are  getting  ac¬ 
quainted  there.  Yes,  my  child,  the  children  here 
at  home  miss  you  all  the  time,  and  we,  too,  and  we 
remember  you  in  our  prayers,  that  the  Creator 
may  keep  you,  and  close  your  eyes  to  all  evil 


39 


40 


tilings,  and  close  your  mouth  from  speaking  evil 
things.  May  He  enlighten  the  eyes  of  your  heart, 
that  you  may  be  able  to  see  the  hidden  things  in 
His  word.  May  you  choose  Jesus  who  died  for 
you.  I  long  to  get  another  letter  from  you,  tell¬ 
ing  me  good  news,  as  this  one  has.  Grow,  my 
child,  in  the  good  way  which  we  have  always 
pointed  out  to  you.  Do  not  forget  to  pray  for  us 
also,  that  we  may  be  kept  from  temptations  and 
may  be  given  power,  so  that  we  may  not  fail  in 
any  way  in  your  training,  and  that  God  may 
guide  us  aright.  Remember  also  your  father’s 
work,  and  pray  that  he  may  be  taught  of  God,  how 
to  teach  the  children  in  his  school.  We  rejoice 
now  because  we  have  a  daughter  in  a  higher 
school.  Do  not  forget  to  pray  for  the  school  you 
are  attending,  and  for  your  teachers.  Help 
Dollie  (a  younger  cousin  attending  school)  in 
every  way  you  can.  Your  sisters  send  much  love. 
Ruby  says,  ‘‘When  will  my  sister  return?” 

The  following  was  written  in  a  later  letter,  in  English  : 

The  babies  (twins)  are  not  very  well,  but  we 
are  trusting  our  Maker  who  is  in  heaven.  I  did 
not  get  the  girl  I  expected  for  a  nurse,  so  I  take 
care  of  them  both  each  day  until  Ethel  comes 
home  from  school.  A  girl  from  Incwadi  has 
lately  come  to  stay  here  and  attend  school,  but 
she  is  a  kraal  girl.  She  does  not  know  the 


housework.  1  am  trying  to  train  her  to  be  useful 
in  the  cooking,  etc. 

I  hope  you  are  getting  on  very  well  in  your 
studies.  Pick  up  everything  as  fast  as  you  can. 
Make  use  of  every  minute  during  study  hours, 
and  keep  quiet  while  in  the  school-house,  and  now 
when  playtime  comes  is  the  time  for  you  to  laugh 
and  shout.  And  when  you  are  given  work,  you 
should  work  with  all  your  might,  and  be  faithful 
in  your  work.  Then  it  will  please  your  mamma 
to  know  she  has  a  girl  in  school. 

A  ZULU  FATHER  TO  HIS  DAUGHTER 

My  dear  Daughter :  Since  you  left  I  have  not 
written  to  you,  but  I  have  not  had  opportunity 
because  of  much  work. 

The  wish  of  your  mother  and  me  is  that  we 
may  see  you  grow  in  the  right  way,  serving  the 
Saviour  Jesus,  to  whom  we  gave  you  when  you 
were  little.  If  you  do  right  in  every  way,  that 
will  cause  us  to  rejoice.  Remember  that  a  good 
name  is  a  great  source  of  joy  to  one  who  has 
worked  to  merit  it.  Read  your  Bible  with  rever¬ 
ence,  and  obey  its  precepts,  and  pray  that  the 
Lord  may  help  you  to  understand  it.  The  Bible 
will  make  you  a  good  girl  and  a  wise  one.  Choose 
good  children  for  your  companions.  If  you  go 
with  bad  children  who  do  wrong  all  the  time,  and 
break  the  rules  of  school,  that  will  make  all  who 
see  you  say  you  are  bad.  Follow  your  mother 


and  me.  We  never  got  bad  names  in  school,  nor 
in  any  place  where  we  were,  and  you  are  our  first¬ 
born  child,  and  there  are  many  children  who  fol¬ 
low  you,  who  need  you  to  be  an  example  to  them 
in  doing  right.  Do  not  disgrace  your  parents  and 
your  teachers  by  wrong-doing,  which  is  an  evil 
tree  that  sows  seed  every  day  that  must  be  reaped 
in  time.  Love  the  truth.  Don’t  waste  time  in 
play  when  you  have  not  learned  your  lessons. 
Kemember  that  you  are  there  for  a  work  for 
which  I  am  paying  money.  Your  father, 

N.  D.  Mf - 1. 


poxsiwe 

ONSIWE  is  the  niece  of  one  of  our  older  girls.  Her 
name  means  ‘‘thrown,”  and  she  was  so  named  be- 
cause  her  friends  believed  that  the  witches  had 
thrown  a  spell  over  her  mother  before  Ponsiwe 
was  born,  and  that  she  was  also  bewitched,  as  her  health 
was  poor  from  the  first.  When  she  was  four  years  old  her 
aunt,  who  was  in  school  at  The  Girls’  Home,  persuaded 
her  father  to  let  her  take  her  to  the  school  and  take  care 
of  her.  They  consented,  thinking  perhaps  the  witches 
would  not  find  her  here.  She  was  naked  when  she  came, 
but  her  aunt  soon  made  clothes  for  her,  and  took  such 
good  care  of  her  that  she  got  well  and  strong,  and  was 
happy  all  the  day  long.  But  after  she  had  been  here  two 
years,  and  was  doing  nicely  in  school,  she  was  taken  ill. 


She  was  carefully  nursed,  and  was  well  on  the  road  to 
recovery,  when  her  heathen  mother  came  to  see  her. 
When  she  saw  how  sick  she  was,  she  immediately  con¬ 
cluded  that  the  witches  had  found  her  at  the  school,  and 
it  was  now  her  duty  to  get  her  away  as  soon  as  possible. 
She  was  told  to  wait  until  the  child  was  stronger  before 
taking  her,  but  she  went  away  saying  she  would  come 
after  her  to-morrow.  The  next  day  she  came,  accom¬ 
panied  by  a  man,  and  before  the  missionaries  hardly 
realized  what  she  was  doing,  she  snatched  up  the  child, 
swung  her  on  to  her  back,  and  started  home  with  her,  a 
distance  of  five  miles.  But  she  dare  not  keep  her  at  home 
for  fear  of  the  witches.  So  every  night  as  soon  as  it  was 
dark,  she  would  take  the  child  and  carry  her  to  a  different 
kraal,  thus  hoping  to  out-wit  the  witches.  Strange  to 
say  the  child  recovered,  but  the  poor  mother,  worn  out 
with  care  and  anxiety,  not  being  a  strong  woman,  took 
sick  and  died.  Ponsiwe’s  father  is  willing  that  she  should 
come  back  to  school,  so  we  expect  soon  to  have  her  back. 

Such  heathen  girls  are  taken  into  the  school  con¬ 
tinually.  They  come  in  their  heathen  blankets  and  with 
no  money.  The  school  can  keep  them  a  year  for  $20.00, 
clothing  them  and  letting  them  partly  support  themselves 
through  garden  work. 

Possibly  home  friends  would  like  to  support  one  of 
these  girls  to  have  them  take  the  place  of  a  departed  one 
or  to  share  in  the  reward. 

Address  Miss  Grace  Allen, 
Umzumbi  Rail,  Natal,  South  Africa. 


